In a stunning revelation, U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told NBC's Today program, Tuesday (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump told him he was "willing to go to war with North Korea if they (North Korea) continued to try to hit America with an ICBM."

Graham said: "He's told me that. I believe him... There is a military option: To destroy North Korea's program and North Korea itself. I prefer the diplomatic approach. But they will not be allowed to have a missile to hit America with a nuclear weapon on top."

He continued: "He's not going to allow (President Trump) the ability of this madman (Kim Jong-un) to have a missile that could hit America.

"If there's going to be a war to stop him, it will be over there," Graham said. "If thousands die, they're going to die over there. They're not going to die over here; and he's told me that to my face."

Graham's press office reportedly confirmed that the senator was reciting the details of a conversation he had with Trump.

According to Graham, Trump "doesn't want a war," but would be willing to start one that would kill millions of people in the region if it came down to it.